When you’re self-employed, business relationships you establish outside your company can be like lifelines. Your one-person company won’t have a business team to bounce ideas off of or to share concerns[more…]

Without a financial forecast, your business plan is incomplete. The three basic parts of your financial forecast should include your pro forma income statement, estimated balance sheet, and projected cash-flow[more…]

There are very few companies that don’t already have at least some level of online presence, even if it’s just a company contact website — which is like an online Yellow Pages ad — or the ability to send[more…]

These days, anyone with a silly pet video can make a bundle on the Internet. Websites and even single items of web-based content strike gold when one person sends a link to ten friends, and those ten friends[more…]

Estimating and budgeting costs for website presence is notoriously difficult because every site is different, with its own features and unique challenges. Creating an online presence is a lot like remodeling[more…]

Just like for-profit companies, nonprofits need cash reserves, a cushion of cash or other liquid assets on hand. The question is, how much? The answer depends largely on the nature of your nonprofit’s[more…]

The only thing that anyone can say about the Internet with any certainty is that it’s changing, and changing fast. How can you plan your online business in such an environment? Whether you’re starting,[more…]

It’s easy to think the fundamental rules of business planning and operation have changed with the rise of social networking, apps, smart phones that do everything but prepare dinner, music and books delivered[more…]

You can avoid some of the pitfalls of online business planning because they've already been identified by some early online-business adventurers. As they forged the path into the world of e-business, they[more…]

A written business plan is an absolute must for an Internet venture. In fact, if you’re seeking funding, you’ll have a hard time finding a serious investor who will even let you past the receptionist without[more…]

A good online-business plan must try to forecast the future — and present options in case that forecast doesn't come to pass. A smart strategy must try to take full advantage of existing web-based applications[more…]

By understanding the needs of your customers and the value that your e-business offers (the value proposition), you can communicate to your customers that you have what they want to buy — and what they’re[more…]

As you put your business plan together, you may discover that you need some additional tools — a book devoted to marketing, for example. You can find dozens of useful titles in the marketplace — particularly[more…]

A great idea sparks most business start-ups, but money is the fuel that keeps those start-ups running. Even if you’re launching a one-person freelance business, chances are you need cash to get off the[more…]

Every business venture starts with an idea. That idea may be as simple as opening a shop that features local artwork or as complex as creating a new biotechnology company. Either way, your success depends[more…]

The Internet is a gold mine of business-planning information and resources. As you delve into the riches, begin with this list of popular sites where you can find useful and reliable tips, tools, and examples[more…]

In today’s rapidly changing world — with its new technologies, new markets, and new global mobility — succession planning matters more than ever before. The success of your organization depends on the[more…]

Whether you’re developing a succession plan for a small family business, a large nonprofit organization, an educational institution, a major corporation, or a government organization, the process boils[more…]

You’re not on your own when setting up or running a business. The following organisations in the UK offier a wealth of information and expertise if you need help from filling in your tax forms to recruiting[more…]

Good customers are the ones who bring a smile to your face, the ones you like serving, the ones who appreciate you, the ones who keep you in business. You want these customers to keep coming back time[more…]

You can often gain a better understanding of your most loyal customers by taking a look at the customers you’ve lost. Your former customers may paint a rather grim picture for you, highlighting where and[more…]

A good way to begin carving out your market segments is by researching who buys your product or service. If you focus on individual consumers, discover a bit about how they live their lives. If your customers[more…]

More than anything else in business planning, how well you know your customers ultimately determines how successful you are. It is vitally important to better acquaint yourself with your customers so that[more…]